Sanitary device for telephone mouthpieces



Jan. w, 193;

P. B. BOCHICCHIO ET AL ,RPHONE Mon'rHPmcPis SANITARY DEVICE FOR 'PFJOriginal Filed April 3, 1937 4 9c M6 ficigmlas wreak ATTORNEY p B 11: BY

Patented Jan. 10, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SANITARY DEVICE FORTELEPHONE MOUTHPIECES Application April 3, 1937, Serial No. 134,748Renewed June 29, 1938 3 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a sanitary andadvertising device for telephone mouthpieces.

The invention has for an object the construction of a device asmentioned which is characterized by a casing consisting of a bodysection for engaging over the outer edge of a telephone mouthpiece, anda cap section detachably connected with the body section and extendinginto the mouthpiece and provided with elements capable of releasablyholding a sanitary chemical member in position along the inner wall ofthe mouthpiece.

More specifically, the invention contemplates arranging the elementsupon the cap section in a manner so that there are spaces between whichthe fumes from the sanitary chemical member may pass.

Still further the invention proposes to arrange the elements in anannular path around the mouthpiece and to construct the sanitarychemical member from an annular piece of absorbent material chemicallysaturated.

Another one of the objects is to provide vent and air passage openingsin the cap section through which the sanitary fumes may pass to thefront of the sanitary device.

Another one of the objects of this invention is the provision of anannular element rotatively mounted on the cap section and by which thepassage through the cap section may be controlled.

Still further the invention proposes the association of pressureelements with said annular member by which the chemical member may bepressed when desired to agitate it and assist in releasing its chemicalfumes.

Still further the invention proposes the arrangement of an advertisingdisc in conjunction with the casing.

Another one of the objects of this invention is to adapt the sanitarydevice for a French telephone.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects andadvantages thereof, reference will be had to the following descriptionand accompanying drawing, and to the appended claims in which thevarious novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawing forming a material part of this disclosure:-

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a sanitary device for telephonemouthpieces constructed according to this invention and shown mounted ona telephone mouthpiece.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the cap section per se.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged of a portion of Fig. 2.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the body section per se.

Fig. 4 is a sectional View similar to Fig. 1 but illustrating anotherembodiment of the invention.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the device shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view similar to Fig. l but illustrating amodification.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view looking in the direction of theline 1'! of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a perspective View of a sanitary device constructed accordingto another embodiment of the invention and adapted for a Frenchtelephone.

Fig. 9 illustrates the device shown in Fig. 8 applied to a Frenchtelephone.

Fig. 10 is an elevational view of the inner side of a sanitary andadvertising device for telephone mouthpieces constructed according to amodification of the invention.

Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken on the line ll-H of Fig. 10.

In Fig. 1 a telephone mouthpiece i0 is shown in cross section. Thismouthpiece has an outer flared end w and a Wall closed inner end I0".This wall closed inner end is formed with perforations H. The sanitarydevice consists of a casing composed of a body section l2 and a capsection I3. The body section 12 is adapted to engage over the outer edgeN1 of the telephone mouthpiece and to extend along the outer facethereof for a short distance. The cap section I3 is adapted to bedetachably connected with the periphery of the body section 52 and toextend into the open edge Hl of the mouthpiece.

The body section 12 and the cap section l3 are formed withinter-engaging flanges I 2 and [3 respectively, threadedly engaged witheach other. The free edge I2 of the body. section I2 snugly engagesagainst the outer wall of the telephone mouthpiece. When the bodysection and the cap section are threadedly engaged with each other theedge l2 will be forced against the outer face of the telephonemouthpiece.

The cap section I3 has an edge element l3 extending inwards into theopen end Ill of the telephone mouthpiece and forming a compartment l5with the inner face of the telephone mouthpiece. A sanitary chemicalmember I5 is arranged within the compartment I5 and supported upon theelements 13 by reason of pins 16* projecting from the chemical memberand ensectional view right angles to the axis of the mouthpiece.

gaging bayonet slots l3 formed in the element l3 This chemical member l6preferably should be of saturated absorbent material such as cotton orcord or solid or soft chemical materials, and is of a diameter so thatwhen engaged on the elements 13 maintains its position. The front of thecap 13 is formed with a plurality of apertures 11 which communicate withthe compartment 15 through which fumes from the chemical member maypass.

After use, when the chemical It becomes inert it may be replaced byfirst separatingthe body section and the cap section of the casing andremoving them from the mouthpiece. The chemical member may then beforced off from the edge portion E3 by turning it to disengage the pins5 from the bayonet slots l3. A fresh chemical element may then besubstituted.

In Figs. 4 and 5 a modified form of the invention has been disclosed inwhich the body section l2 of the sanitary device continues into aportion 2 engaging the outer face of the telephone mouthpiece andextending rearwards and terminating in a disc shaped portion li disposedat This disc shaped portion l2 forms a support for advertising materialwhich may be printed or pasted thereon.

In Figs. 6 and 7 a modified form of the invention has been disclosedwhich is very similar to the previous forms except for the fact thatthere is a control for disseminating the fumes from the chemical-member.Specifically, there is an annular element [8 which is rotatively mountedupon the inner face of the front wall of the body section It. Severalriveted lug portions l8 project from the annular element l8 and engagethrougharcuate' slots is formed in the cap section l3. These lugs wserve a dual purpose; they hold the annular element rotative inposition, and they provide heads by which the annular element may bemoved from the exterior of the device.

The annular element I8 is formed with a plurality of apertures 20adapted in one position to align with the apertures l8 in the cap-and inother positions to be partially aligned, and in certain positions tocompletely block the passages through the apertures. At spaced positionsthere are a plurality of pressure members 2! which are pivotallyconnected by hinge elements 22 at their inner ends upon the annularelementv l8. The outer ends 21 of the pressure members 22! extend fromthe compartment l5 through a passage between the cap section and thetelephone mouthpiece. These outer ends 2W may be manually moved byengagement with ones finger nails and may be utilized to exert pressureagainst the chemical member IE to disturb it and disseminate its fumeswhen desired. The pressure members 25 may be engaged against thechemical member while the annular element [8 is being moved. This willcause a sufficiently large disturbance of the chemical material on thechemical member to make it give off its fumes freely.

In Figs. 8 and 9 another embodiment of the invention has been disclosedand particularly shows a sanitary device for a French telephone.Specifically, there is a casing section 25 from 1 which a flange 28projects from the inner edge thereof. This casing section 25 is ofannular form and is adapted to'extend along the edge of the opening in aFrench telephone such as illustrated in Fig. 8 and indicated by thereference numeral 21. The flange 26 engages over and holds a sanitarychemical member 28 which comprises absorbent material saturated with achemical substance by reason of pins 26* projecting from the chemicalmember and engaging bayonet slots 26 formed in the flange 26. flange 28has another purpose, namely, when the casing 25 is engaged over theOpening in the French telephone the flange 25 engages the inner edge ofthe telephone opening and so maintains the position of the sanitarydevice.

In Figs. 10 and 11 another embodiment of the invention has beendisclosed which is particularly intended for the so called Frenchtelephone. According to this form of the invention there is an annularmember 38 which may engage over the front edge of the mouthpiece of aFrench telephone and which is provided with several prongs 3i projectingfrom its inner periphery which engage over and hold a chemical substance32. This chemical member is of crescent shape extending over about halfof-the annular distance of the annular member 30.

The outer face of the annular member may be inscribed with advertisingmatter. The prongs 3| which'hold the chemical member 32 are also adaptedto engage the outer edge of the mouthpiece of the French phone tomaintain the position of the device thereon. The chemical member 32 maybe of similar material to that preferred with respect to the chemicalmember 16.

While we have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of ourinvention, it is to be understood that we do not limit ourselves to theprecise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to allchanges and modifications coming within the scope of the invention asdefined in the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, What we claim as new, and desire tosecure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A sanitary device for telephone mouthpieces, comprising a casingconsisting of a body section for engaging over the outer edge of atelephone mouthpiece and a cap section detachably connected with saidbody section and extending into said mouthpiece, an element on said capsection extending inwards and forming a compartment with the inner faceof said mouthpiece, and a sanitary chemical member within saidcompartment and supported on said element, and the front portion of saidcap section being formed with openings for passage of the chemicalfumes.

extending inwards and forming a compartment with the inner face of saidmouthpiece, a sanitary chemical member within said compartment andsupported on said element, a link element rotatively mounted upon theinner face of said cap section and formed with openings in certainposition alignable with complementary openings in the cap section forcontrolling the venting of said compartment.

3. A sanitary device for telephone mouthpieces comprising a casingconsisting of a body section for engaging over the outer edge of atelephone mouthpiece and a cap section detachably connected with saidbody section and extending into said mouthpiece, an element on said capsection extending inwards and forming a compartment with the inner faceof said mouthpiece, a sanitary Thechemical member within saidcompartment and supported on said element, a link element rotativelymounted upon the inner face of said cap section and formed with openingsin certain position alignable with complementary openings in the capsection for controlling the venting of said compartment, and pressuremembers pivotally mounted on said annular element and engaging againstthe sides of said chemical member and extending to the exterior of saidcompartment between the cap section and the telephone mouthpiece wherebythey may be manually moved to exert pressure against said chemicalmember.

PAUL B. BOCHICCHIO. NICHOLAS YURCAK.

